by Camellia-Sin » Apr 5th, '24, 02:07
Semi-geezer, spend half year in Asia every year, ambivalent about tea (but drink it daily). Tea-wise, I like to be 'hit in the face with a hammer' by the taste and aroma.
Why: I think I'm dependent on caffeine (medical), it wakes me up (practical), I like the taste/aroma (sensual), gives me a sense of being at home when I am travelling (domestic), something to offer visitors (social), 'comfort drink' - grew up drinking tea (psychological)
India versus China: Japan
Favourite teas: 'Pu'er' (fermented green tea), 'hoji-cha' (roasted green tea), 'mugi-cha' (roasted barley tea); 'genmai-cha' (roasted brown rice tea); Irish breakfast tea
Time to drink: morning only, ocassionally in early afternoon
Tea habits I do not like: putting milk and sugar (any sweetener really) in tea; fussiness of preparation; using garbage quality tea in bags except in a caffeine emergency
Habits: I recycle teabags; I am too lazy to boil water so often instead I infuse tea overnight in fridge
Confession: I like 'builder's tea'
Guilt-ridden pleasure: despite being vegetarian, I like bone china
Budget: low to medium
Favourite places to drink tea: my hotel room; neighbourhood cafes in Istanbul
Least favourite places to drink tea: over-priced 'la-de-da' cafes anywhere but especially in Canada and Hong Kong
Favourite tea cups: clay, ceramic, anything with a saucer
Film scene: can't remember title, but an Irish eccentric of odd personal familial habits drinks tea out of saucer
Favourite tea pots: Brown Betty
Most over-rated teas: those expensive 'white teas' from Assam (too subtle); 'sen-cha' (green tea upsets my digestive system if taken on an empty stomach)
Non-tea 'teas'?: Yes, I experiment with them, e.g. jiaogulan
The only reason I got interested in tea is when I start my own café business. Unfortunately, that business is no longer running because my customers didn't like tea... kidding!
I was not accustomed to drinking tea until I traveled to Japan. The tea culture there is unlike anything I've seen before, it's a delicate ritual! 
